The new documentary series Angry Young Men revolves around the personal and professional lives of legendary screenwriters Salim-Javed, and how they broke into the film industry. The documentary also features insights, anecdotes and opinions from both the screenwriters’ families, including Salim Khan’s children Salman Khan and Arbaaz Khan and Javed’s children Farhan Akhtar and Zoya Akhtar. (Also read: Angry Young Men review: A heartwarming, fascinating update on the Salim-Javed legacy)
Here are five key takeaways from the show.
Salman taught Zoya how to ride a bicycle
Zoya Akhtar revealed that it was Salman Khan who taught her how to ride a cycle. Salman Khan said, “It was like everyone was like family. Anyone could go to someone’s house. I taught Farhan and Zoya how to ride a cycle.” Zoya further added, “I was just struggling and I remember Salman said, ‘Just keep going. Nothing is going to happen. You will fall. Then you will get up and walk again’. And that is something that stays forever, you know.”
Javed Akhtar said that he blames himself for the failure of his first marriage.
Javed Akhtar opened up about his first marriage to Honey Irani. He said, “Honey is the one person in the world for whom I blame myself. And she is the only person. I have the responsibility of 60 to 70 people on my shoulders for the failure of that marriage. If I had the understanding I have today, maybe things wouldn’t have gone so wrong. It is very difficult to accept this. But that is the way it is.” Shabana Azmi said that she gives all the credit to Honey for building trust between the children and today they all share a good relationship.
Arbaaz said on father Salim Khan’s second marriage
Arbaaz Khan revealed how his mother Salma Khan never pitted him against his father after his second marriage. “My mother never influenced us to think or say anything against my father. He had his own problems but she never influenced us to think ‘your father is like this’ or ‘he is doing this’. Never… We call her aunty even today because she was Helen aunty at that time. Though we treat her like a mother, we call her Helen aunty. She is a part of our lives. More than us, my mother makes sure she is a part of everything,” he said.
Amitabh on the ’emergency meeting’ held soon after the release of Sholay
Sholay was declared a flop soon after its release and the docuseries revealed how Ramesh Sippy had an emergency meeting with Amitabh Bachchan, Javed Akhtar and Salim Khan. Amitabh said, “Ramesh ji said we should think about changing the ending so that you don’t die, but stay alive.” Javed added, “We told him not to worry. Let him say whatever he wants to say. It’s going to be a superhit. This is all rubbish.”
Amitabh said that Ramesh Sippy had suggested him to wait till Monday. Then he smiled and said, “After Monday, it became history. Isn’t it?”
Salim Khan refused to be a witness to Javed Akhtar’s first marriage
Javed told that he has always looked upon Salim Khan and his wife Salma Khan as his parents. But initially they were not into the idea of ​​being witnesses to his marriage to Honey Irani. Javed said, “Salim sahab said, ‘You need two witnesses to get married.’ I said you are. Obviously, I would not choose anyone else. He said, ‘Don’t have witnesses.’ I asked why. He said, ‘All the marriages I have seen have broken.’ I am not a superstitious person at all. I said I don’t believe in such things. You will be my witness. But then he was proved right.” Javed and Honey’s relationship broke down around 1980. Javed fell in love with Shabana Azmi and they got married in 1984.
Angry Young Men is available to watch on Prime Video.
